[mythtv-users] Best place to insert a CATV amp
Brian Wood
beww at beww.org
Fri Jan 26 22:24:42 UTC 2007
On Jan 26, 2007, at 3:17 PM, Rudy Zijlstra wrote:
> Bill wrote:
>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I cannot seem to find a good answer anywhere on this, so maybe
>> someone here can help.
>>
>> Q: In a line with several splits, where is the best place to add
>> an amplifier?
>>
>> I just hooked up my newly recreated mythtv backend. It has a
>> PVR350 and a PVR500 in it. At first I was getting pretty icky
>> picture, so I hooked up a powered amp and it got better. But not
>> as good as it should.
>>
>> Pretty much my arangement is like so: Sorry for it being
>> confusing, but I am unsure how to portay it. I've noted where I
>> have considered putting it by inserting (option #). I can also
>> get an amp with multiple outputs which may be the way to go.
>>
>> I *believe* I have near perfect cable signal coming in (not too
>> strong / not too weak) - but then again they did not seem to be
>> the sharpest of people...
>>
>> -> STREET
>> -> RUNS TO HOUSE
>> -> 2 WAY SPLITTER -> TV | CABLE MODEM
>>
>> Cable Modem:
>> (ends here)
>>
>> TV: (Option 1)
>> -> 4 WAY SPLITTER
>>
>> 4 WAY SPLITTER:
>> -> TV
>> -> TV
>> -> TV
>> -> TV -> (Option 2) -> 3 WAY SPLITTER
>>
>> 3 WAY SPLITTER:
>> -> TV
>> -> PVR350
>> -> (Option 3) -> PVR500 (Which has a 2 WAY built in I believe)
>>
>> Basically the question comes down to is it better to boost the
>> signal higher and let it drop down as it goes through, or let it
>> drop down, then boost it.
>>
>> As I understand it, you get poor quality when it is too high or
>> too low... so should I work out the drops so it always stays as
>> close to the starting point?
>>
>>
>>
> If you put an 8dB amp before the 4-way it should work. If signal is
> low
> at PVR at that point, you can still increase that 8dB to 16dB without
> problems.
Be careful about talking about signal level as if it were a single
channel. When you state a level is that the highest or the lowest of
the 50+ channels?, or an average? Is this the highest the cable
company ever sends you or the lowest? The levels vary all over the
place both in frequency and with time.
That's why I wanted to try and give at least a brief explanation,to
show that talking about levels with a single number is meaningless.
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